anxiety disorders Flashcards
models of stress
biomechanical ‘engineering’
medicophysiological
psychological (transactional)
models of stress: psychological (transactional)
interactive
an individuals reaction to stress will depend on a balance between their cognitive processing of percieved threat and percieved ability to cope
coping: problem focussed, emotion focussed
models of stress: biomechanical ‘engineering’
someone’s environment disturbed in some way which places a strain on them
strain can be tolerated up to certain extent but if this is exceeded then psychological and pscyhological damage can occur
models of stress: medicophysiological
general, non-specific reaction to demand of any nature producing fight or flight response
3 stages of physiological activity: alarm reaction, physiological adaption to stressor, exhaustion/burn out
coping with stressed: problem focussed
efforts are directed towards modifying stressor to reduce/eliminate it
e.g. studying for exam
coping with stress: emotion focussed
attempt to reduce negative emotions assoc with stress - mental defence mechnanisms
e.g. taking breaks whilst studying to take mind off it
fight or flight response and symptoms of anxiety: symptom groups
psychological arousal autonomic arousal muscle tension hyperventilation sleep disturbance
reactions to stress producing anxiety: psychological arousal
fearful anticipation irritability sensitivity to noise poor concentration worrying thoughts
reactions to stress producing anxiety: autonomic arousal
GIT: dry mouth, swallowing difficulties, nausea, diarrhoea
resp: tight chest
CVS: palpitations, chest pain
gen-urinary: frequency/urgency, amenorrhoea/dysmenorrea, ED
CNS: dizziness, sweating
reactions to stress producing anxiety: muscle tension
tremor
headache
muscle pain
reactions to stress producing anxiety: hyperventilation
causing co2 deficit, hypocapnia
numbing tingling in extremeties
breathelssness
reactions to stress producing anxiety: sleep disturbance
initial insomnia
frequent waking
nightmares and night terrors
generalised anxiety disorder
persistent (several months) symptoms not confined to a situation or object
all symptoms mentioned earlier can occur: psychological arousal, autonomic arousal, muscle tension, hyperventilation, sleep disturbance
aetiology GAD
no clear line between normal anxiety and anxiety disorder
stressor acting on a personality predisposed to the disorder by a combination of genetic factors and environmental influences in childhood
phobia vs GAD
phobia: symtpoms in specific circumstance
GAD: generalised and persistent anxiety, not restricted to specific event
management GAD
counselling: clear plan management, explanation + education, advice re caffeine, alcohol, exercise
relaxation training: group/individual, DVD, tapes, clinician led
medication: sedatives have high risk dependency, antidepressant SSRI or TCA
CBT
key features of phobic anxiety disorders
some core features as GAD only in specific circumstances
person behaves to avoid there circumstances - phobic avoidance
sufferer also experiences anxiety if there is a perceived threat of encountering the feared object or situation ‘anticipatory anxiety’
3 key phobic anxiety disorders
specific phobias
social phobia
agoraphobia
specific phobias ex
spiders heights germs dentist blood
social phobia
inappropriate anxiety in situation where person feels observed or could be criticised
fear of scrutiny by other people, leading to avoidance of social situations, assoc with low self esteem, fear of critisism
symptoms any of anxiety cluster, partic blushing and hand tremor
management social phobia
CBT
education and advice
medication SRRI antidepressants
obsessive compulsive disorder
experience recurrent obsessional thoughts and/or compulsive acts
obsessional thoughts
ideas, images, impulses
occurring repeatedly, not willed
unpleasant and distressing
recognised as individual’s own thoughts even tho involuntary
usual key anxiety symptoms arise due to distress of thoughts/attempting to resits
OCD: compulsive acts or rituals
stereotypical behaviours repeated again and again
not enjoyable
not helpful - not useful
often viewed by sufferer as: preventing some harm to self or others or pointless and resisted with key anxiety symptoms
